What is Hydroplaning?
Driving your car is an activity that some people consider mundane, while others take great pleasure. The people in the second category cherish the moment when the weather is nice, and they can sit behind the steering wheel, get out on a twisty road, and have some fun. Unfortunately, things aren’t always perfect, and we don’t get to drive on dry roads all the time.
Sure, there are areas where it doesn’t rain too much, so those people get to enjoy the “perfect” conditions more often than others. With those conditions aside, today I’ll discuss the non-ideal conditions. To be specific, today I’ll talk about something that happens when you’re driving in the rain.
If you’ve read some of my reviews, you’ve noticed that I often mention a little thing called aquaplaning or hydroplaning. Both are the same, so today, I’ll talk about that.
Specifically, I’ll answer what aquaplaning is, how to avoid it, and what to do if it happens to you.
What is Hydroplaning?
Hydroplaning or aquaplaning happens when driving in rainy conditions over parts of the road with standing water. The tires rely on friction to deliver traction, so it’s essential for them to be in contact with the road.
Driving in harsh rain is problematic because the conditions aren’t ideal. The tread pattern is responsible for moving water away from beneath the tire so that the blocks can offer grip and traction. There is a point where they won’t be as effective, and the tire isn’t making contact anymore. In many ways, it skips over the water like the flat rocks we throw in a lake.
The problem with aquaplaning is that you lose most of your control over the car once it happens. You won’t be able to brake as effectively, and the steering can be almost non-existent. It’s like floating on clouds, but not in a fun way. This is how most accidents happen, which is why it’s important to avoid it as much as possible.
Why do tires Hydroplane?
With the what out of the way, let’s talk about the why. In this case, I’ll talk about why you may experience hydroplaning. I mentioned that the tread pattern is the part of the tire responsible for protecting you against this, so let me explain.
While driving over a water patch, the tire relies on the vehicle’s weight to keep it pinned to the road. Meanwhile, any water that’s in front of the tire gets channeled through the grooves and thrown to the side or behind. We call this water evacuation property, and it’s often a good indicator of how well a tire can resist aquaplaning.
There are two parts to this: the design of the tread and the depth. Manufacturers design the pattern with multiple things in mind, including the hydroplaning. This is why we see some tires doing a better job than others. The other aspect is the tread depth. As the tire wears down, the tread depth reduces, and the tire won’t be able to channel as much water as it did when it was new.
The best way to explain this is with Formula 1 tires. In dry conditions, they’re running slicks that have no grooves. This is because there’s no water, and the tires can utilize a bigger contact patch. In rainy conditions, the tires use have grooves that help them resist hydroplaning.
How to avoid Hydroplaning?
Some people say that it’s not avoidable, which I agree partially. There are a few things you can do to try and avoid it, and in a worst-case scenario, you’d at least reduce the chances of ever experiencing it.
The first and most important thing is to keep the tire pressure optimal. Doing so will ensure the tire’s water evacuation properties are as good as possible. Underinflated tires have a higher chance of aquaplaning, while the overinflated ones are already crippled in wet conditions in terms of overall performance.
Next is the thing that’s causing the most problems, and that’s the speed. Doing 70 on the highway seems fine, and most people think they won’t have any issues with standing water. That’s true if the tires are brand new with full depth, but that’s not always the case, and not all of us have tires that are a few days old. This is why it’s important to adjust your speed according to the conditions and the state of your tires.
Tires evacuate a certain amount of water, but there is a speed limitation to that. Going over that speed overwhelms the tire, and you’ll experience hydroplaning. This is why I recommend taking things easy and trying to be sensible. Speaking of speed, cruise control is something you shouldn’t use, especially on the highway. Setting it to 70 and relaxing your right foot is fine on a warm and sunny day, but it’s a bad idea in these conditions. In harsh rain, you’ll need to constantly modulate the speed based on the road and the conditions, so driving with cruise control isn’t a good idea.
My last piece of advice is to be more cautious of the road ahead. In some situations, dips and undulations are noticeable, so if you’re paying attention, you can slow down enough or avoid that patch of water. It may be fun seeing a massive wave of water on the side, but that can cause hydroplaning.
What to do if you experience Hydroplaning?
I talked about ways in which you can minimize the chances of experiencing aquaplaning, but things aren’t as perfect as they seem. You can try as much as you want and still experience hydroplaning at a certain point in your life. With that said, what should you do in those situations, and how should you minimize the damage?
The first thing I’ll talk about is how hydroplaning feels. I have to be honest, as good as I am with words, it’s not easily explainable. The best I can do is tell you that your car will feel floaty, and all of the feel you had through the steering wheel will feel different, or it will feel detached. Naturally, you won’t be able to steer, and the inertia will keep pushing your vehicle forward.
This is where most people make their first mistake, and that’s when the panic kicks in. It’s not a fun experience, and you feel helpless, so this is the second step – getting a grip (figuratively) and remaining as calm as possible. A common mistake in these situations is people slamming on the brakes, which causes all sorts of problems.
Let’s say you’re doing 60 at a slight bend, and you notice the car aquaplaning. Slamming the brakes will put more weight on the front tires and unload the rear ones. Transferring the weight to the front may be a good way to initiate a drift, but in these situations, you’ll most likely spin out of control.
So, in these situations, remaining calm and refraining from slamming the brakes is a good start to regaining control. Ease off the gas pedal and start to apply the brakes gradually. You may notice the ABS kicking in, which is normal in these conditions. It’s essential to continue applying even pressure on the brake pedal. The idea is to keep the balance of the vehicle as it was before and remain in partial control. You can also try the engine braking, which should help you out a bit in getting your vehicle to a more normal speed.
While doing this, you should hold the steering wheel firm with both hands to prevent the front wheels from moving in a direction you don’t want them to. Speaking of the steering wheel, you should remember that sudden inputs aren’t recommended, so you should be smooth like with the brakes.
From this point on, it’s just a matter of time before your vehicle slows down enough to regain traction with the surface. As soon as the front tires bite in, you’ll be back in control, and I recommend pulling to the side of the road to take a breather.
Experiencing hydroplaning while driving straight isn’t fun, but it’s also not a massive problem. You’ll ease off the gas, start applying the brakes, and just keep the steering wheel straight. Eventually, your car will slow down, and you’ll be fine. Aquaplaning mid-corner isn’t fun, especially when you start to see the barrier coming at you sideways.
I’ve had several situations where my car aquaplaned in several situations. It’s not a fun experience, but the fact that I remained calm and smooth with my inputs is the main aspect that kept me and my car safe.
The most important thing to know is that it’s not a long process. You can hydroplane for less than a second or a few seconds. Regardless of the duration, it’s essential to remain calm if you want to avoid an accident.
Conclusion
Most of us want to drive in ideal conditions, but things don’t work that way in the real world. We sometimes find ourselves driving in rainy conditions, which are far from perfect, especially when we’re talking about pouring rain. This is where you’ll find standing water sections on the road, which can throw your vehicle out of control.
We call this hydroplaning or aquaplaning, and it’s something you should know about, which is why I wrote this guide. I explained why it happens, how to prevent it, and, in the worst-case scenario, what to do if you experience it. Long story short – as long as you remain calm and keep your inputs smooth, you’ll be fine, and you’ll regain control quickly.